Sheffield Steelers 3-1 Belfast Giants

Sheffield missing Jason Hewitt (ribs) but Rob Dowd and Mark Thomas return. Belfast missing Mark Dutiaume.

Warren Tait secured another Sheffield win from close-range with just 13 seconds remaining (59:47) in a game with a very end-of-season feeling. Sheffield gave Barnsley boy Davey Lawrence a start in goal and Giants put in Adam Cree halfway through. By that stage Giants were trailing 2-0, after Jeff Legue had all the time in the world to beat Stevie Lyle on his doorstep (5:06) and Joey Talbot tapped into an unguarded net from the left (14:56) after Doug Sheppard drew Lyle before passing inside. Another neat passing move found Scott Cameron at the back post for a tap in (51:52) to put Giants on the board but both sides were far more concerned with reaching the play-offs injury free than busting a gut for the points.

Sheffield hit the pipe work twice, Jonathan Phillips re-directing Rod Sarich’s shot onto Lyle’s left post two minutes after Talbot’s goal. In the middle period Dan Tessier pinged a shot off the crossbar 4 minutes after Cree came on.

Giants peppered Lawrence throughout the opening session but were guilty of missing some gilt-edged chances, with Leigh Jamieson and Scott Campbell blasting wide when well-placed.

Just 34 seconds into the final period Lawrence did well to deny Cameron at point-blank range after George Awada picked his team-mate out at the far post.

But aside from this, there was little of note as both sides gave ample ice-time to their full rosters. After the opening period both teams concentrated on trying to pass the puck into the net and the defences were able to pick off most of the openings. However Cree and Lawrence had fine games and could do nothing about the goals they conceded.

Steelers used the man of the match award to make a point of giving ex-Steeler and Giants coach Ed Courtenay a special mention on his last appearance at the Sheffield Arena before he returns to North America this summer. Sheffield were the side who brought the ex-NHLer over to Britain and his goal-scoring quickly became legendary in these parts.

Cardiff's 2-0 victory over Manchester ensures Sheffield will meet their roses rivals in the play-off quarter-finals, with first leg in Sheffield on Friday 28th march, face-off 7.30pm.